a journal of tool collecting published by crafts of new jersey

THE TOOLSHED—NOVEMBER 2004 1

NUMBER 134 NOVEMBER 2004

A Journal of Tool Collecting published by CRAFTS of New Jersey

September Issue Contents Victor Koontz………………………………………...….......1, 3 - 6

President’s Corner …………………………….………….……....2

Book Review - Source Book for Rule Collectors…....……….4, 10

CRAFTS Picnic……………..…………………... ..…....…. 7 -9, 10

Kean Kuttin’s - Companion…………………………..…………..11

A “Mystery of Life” Question…………………………………....12

November 7 - CRAFTS Meeting

HOST Masonic Lodge, Highbridge

Carl Bopp - John Porcius Gage -Vineland, NJ

VICTOR KOONTZ’ K1 VISE

While researching the Emmert Mfg. Compa-

ny I came across a patent by Victor R. Koontz of

Waynesboro, PA. The drawings looked similar

to the Emmert “New Improved” patternmaker’s

vise. I wondered “Victor Koontz, who was he?

What was his relationship to the Emmert Mfg.

Co.?” As it turns out, Victor R. Koontz was the

man whose vise design has been admired and

copied by many. He invented and patented a

woodworker’s vise similar to Joseph Emmert’s

that we affectionately call the Emmert K1 pat-

ternmakers vise. It is called the K1 vise because

of the casting number on the front jaw. The vise actually has

many “K” numbers on it. These are casting numbers used in the

foundry and during the manufacturing and assembly process.

Victor Koontz’ patent was filed on Feb. 6, 1918 and grant-

ed on July 15, 1919. The first vises were manufactured by the

Victor Tool Co. of Waynesboro PA. The vise is similar in size

and function to the Emmert No. 1 turtleback vise. Two versions

of this early type have been seen. The first one says “PAT.

APLD. FOR” on the

left side of the front

jaw and the second

says “PATENTED”.

(See Type U0.5)

COMPARISON OF

THE VICTOR AND

EMMERT VISE Both the Victor

Tool Co. and the Emmert Mfg. Co. were located in the small

Pennsylvania Dutch town of Waynesboro in Southeastern

Pennsylvania. There are many similarities between the K1 vise

and the Emmert turtleback vise. Both the Victor K1 and the

Emmert turtleback have large flat jaw faces meas-

uring 18” x 5” and smaller 3” wide steel-faced

metal working jaws. Both vises have the unique

ability to take hold of the work piece and rotate on

the screw axis or tilt the work piece to the upright

position using a hinged mounting angle so that the

craftsman’s work is held parallel to the top surface

of the bench. Both have key-hole slots for user-

installed jaws, 4 retractable vise dogs, an available

angle plate or tilting jaw insert. Both patternmak-

ers’ vises have taper adjustments and can hold ta-

pered work

pieces such as

table legs. You would think

that they were both invented

in Waynesboro or some-

thing. Also matching is the

configuration of the rectan-

gular beam supporting and

protecting the screw with

the nut riding in the beam’s

slot. The nut is attached to the back of the hub which allows the

whole assembly to rotate.

There are a few differences as well. There are the obvious

changes in the jaw design and taper adjustment. On the Victor

K1 vise, the adjustment for holding tapered work was by use of

two thumb screws located behind a rotating collar. The collar

would be loosened, then adjust the thumb screws to the desired

taper and retighten the collar. On these vises, the rotating collar

received extra abuse and is often found damaged or modified.

A similar design was used on Oliver’s rendition. Also on these

early Victor vises, the vise dogs did not protrude below the

lower jaw. This made raising the dogs rather difficult. The un-

der bench bracket is also different. A flat steel bar was used

(Continued on page 3)

Who was Victor Koontz and what was his connection to Joseph Emmert?

Part II of the Emmert Manufacturing Company History

By Carl Matthews, AIA

Victor Tool Co. Vise

Victor Tool Co. jaw casting


PRESIDENT’S

CORNER

It is almost unbelievable!! Ken Vliet does it

again. Another picture perfect day for the annual

CRAFTS picnic. I hope I don’t jinx us when re-

marking about the fact that as long as I have been a

member of CRAFTS there has not been a rainout!

Good food, good turnout, good displays, good

company, and good tool buying and selling.

Ebay seems to be a pretty popular place for

many people to thin out collections, sell yard sale

items and to pick up an occasional piece for our

collections. The selling on ebay bug has finally

bitten yours truly and I launched my sales career

this evening by putting five items up for sale. Just

an experiment and trial to see what happens. It

was much easier than expected as they lead you by

the hand from start to finish. If you make a mis-

take it is easily corrected via editing process. Only

three of the items were tools and none of them

were collectible. It might be a good way to clean

some of the accumulation from my cellar.

Now let put on my other hat for a moment. Fall

is here and it is time to think about what you will

be consigning to our spring auction. Consignor

forms are available and if you wish to consign

please send me a SASE and I will send a form to

you. We already have a number of nice items con-

signed. The sooner we get your list and items the

easier it will be to photograph them and put them

on our website. This year we hope to have almost

everything on the site.

This is the last column for the year so I want to

take this opportunity to wish all a HAPPY HOLI-

DAY, AND A HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS

NEW YEAR.

Greg

Collectors of Rare and Familiar Tools Society

of New Jersey

President……………………....….GREG WELSH, Califon

Vice President…………………….BOB GARAY, Hopatcong

Secretary………………………….DON KAHN, Hackensack

Treasurer…………………………JACK WHELAN, Murray Hill

The purpose of CRAFTS of New Jersey is to encourage in-

terest in early trades and industries, and in the identification,

study, preservation and exhibition of tools and implements

used and made in New Jersey as an integral part of our herit-

age.

Membership in CRAFTS is open to anyone who shares the

above interests. Annual dues per person or couple are fifteen

dollars for the membership year of July 1 through June 30.

Membership fees may be sent to the Treasurer:

John Whelan, 38 Colony Court, Murray Hill, NJ 07974

(write check payable to CRAFTS of New Jersey).

CRAFTS of NJ meetings are held at the HOST Masonic

Lodge in High Bridge, NJ.

Take I-78 to Route 31 exit at Clinton. Go north on Rte. 31

two miles to second traffic light at the High Bridge exit. Turn

right and go about half a mile to Dennis Ave. Turn left, then

straight to the Masonic Lodge (on the left).

Tailgate sales in the parking lot begin at 10 A.M., meeting

starts at 1 P.M.

The TOOL SHED

Published five times a year for members of CRAFTS of New

Jersey. Editor: Dave Nowicki, 240 Woodlyn Ave. Glenside

PA 19038. EMAIL - [email protected].

Articles, especially about early tools and trades, are encour-

aged and may be sent to the Editor.

Joseph Jones shootboard and plane

Patented July 21, 1874 Newark, NJ


Robert E. Nelson

1930-2004

On August 20, CRAFTS lost a member and long-

time friend Bob Nelson. Most toolies will recognize

Bob’s name as the editor of the Directory of Ameri-

can Toolmakers. He also wrote articles for the Tool

Shed, including a few summaries of our auctions. He

was a founding member of PATINA, and belonged

to EAIA and TATHS (England).

Basically, Bob got his tools for the fun of it, not to

make money. Here’s what he said in the March 2003

PATINAGRAM:

“I could have made more money with a pass-

book savings account, or maybe by orienting my

tool buying toward appreciation potential. ---- But

I can’t imagine any other hobby, or any other way

of pursuing this one, that would have brought me

30 years of greater pleasure.”

Bob had a special interest in unusual measuring

tools, such as rope calipers, and horse height sticks.

He used his wide-ranging knowledge in his work on

the Directory of American Toolmakers. This was a

19 year effort that he completed with co-editor Gene

Kijowski. The EAIA presented them their Long

Term Service Award in 1999 for the 1160 page Di-

rectory.

Bob will be missed, not only as one who made a sub-

stantial contribution to the tool world, but also as a

friend who generously shared his knowledge.

By John Cox for EAIA (edited for CRAFTS by Herb Kean)

Obituary

instead of a round bar and the clamping mechanism was rede-

signed.

As Victor Koontz looked for ways to promote his vise, he

turned to the Oliver Machinery Co. of Grand Rapids, MI. It is not

certain how long this relationship lasted but he did receive some

mileage out of it. Several of the “PAT. APLD. FOR” vises were

found in the highlands of Scotland bearing an Oliver nameplate

on them. These were probably used in the pattern shops at the

ship building port of Glasgow.

VICTOR VISE BECOMES PART OF EM-

MERT MFG. CO.

Eventually the Emmert Mfg. Co.

gained the rights to manufacture Vic-

tor’s vise. It was marketed as the “New

Improved” universal vise. The first

ones manufactured appear to have the

Emmert nameplate placed on top of the

Victor name in the front jaw casting.

The Emmert Mfg. Co. also pro-

duced a smaller version of the K1

vise which it called the No. 2. Its

woodworking jaws measure 14” x

4” has only one set of vise dogs but

maintains all of the functionality of

the larger No. 1. Of course the cast-

ing numbers on this vise are differ-

ent and the front jaw has a K-16

casting on it.

HISTORY OF TYPES AND CHANGES IN

CASTINGS Not long after Emmert Mfg. Co.

began manufacturing Victor’s vise, small

features in the vise were experimented

with and then redesigned. First, the vise

dogs were extended to

protrude thru the low-

er portion of the jaw

casting. Additionally

the thumb screw adjustments were replaced

with a rotating cam plate and handle to facili-

tate easier taper adjustment. (See Type U2) It

is most common to find this handle on the

right side of the collar. It can be flipped over

for the left-handed users.

The locking collar with the high/low fins

broke frequently with constant loosening and

tightening of the collar. For a while a smaller

four-ribbed collar was used. (See Type U3 and

U4) These were only triangle shaped low ribs.

I’ve seen some with no ribs on the collar as well.

I don’t think that these were strong enough and

the collar was redesigned again. This time the entire collar used 8

ribs, all low versions. (See Type U5 and U6)

(Continued from page 1)


Taper adjustment handle

No. 2 Improved Vise

8 rib high-low collar

Low rib collar


BOOK REVIEW

By Hank Allen

A Source Book for Rule Collectors Softcover 8 1/2"

x 11", 286 pages, 2003

A Rule Concordance and Value Guide Softcover 6"

x 9", 66 pages, 2004

By Philip E. Stanley

Sold together only for $45 plus shipping

Astragal Press (astragalpress.com)

Phil Stanley grew up near White Plains, New York,

and graduated from RPI in Troy, New York. Subse-

quently, he worked in California and Ohio as a computer

engineer before settling in Massachusetts. He was an

active rule collector and researcher during his profession-

al career. In the 1970s his collecting interests were

broader than rules, but, over time, rules of all types and

makers became his overriding interest. As to research,

when Ken Robert's Introduction to Rule Collecting

("Introduction") was published in 1982 Phil was already

working on Boxwood and Ivory, a book on Stanley rules,

which was published in 1984 and is now out of print.

Since retiring, Phil continues his research, but is now also

a dealer in antique tools and scientific instruments.

The Introduction was the first publication on Ameri-

can rules. Before that there had been a few articles in the

Chronicle, but not much else. The Introduction had 14

pages and included material on types of rules, a history of

rulemaking in quite some detail on American rule mak-

ers, and also selected catalog page reprints. A chart was

included to show the dates the major American rule mak-

ers were active and also the dates of the many consolida-

tions and acquisitions. The chart shows Thomas Belcher

of New York, who came to this country from England, as

the earliest American rule

maker starting in 1822. Did

you know that Belcher Broth-

ers actually made their rules in

Camptown, New Jersey?

Camptown became Irvington

in 1852.

Boxwood and Ivory cov-

ered Stanley traditional rules

from 1855-1975. The first

chapter is an interesting, 14-

page overview of Stanley and

the rule industry. Did you know that 95% of the rules

made in America in 1875 were made within 15 miles of

Unionville, Connecticut? By 1915 the number of rules

offered by Stanley had grown to 115. For reasons given

in the text this number declined to 78 after the first war,

to 75 as the depression arrived, to 47 as the second war

began, and eventually to only 4 in 1975 (34VR, 34 1/2

VR, 136R, and 136 1/2). Ivory rules were discontinued

between 1918 and 1920. Chapters 2 and 3 cover materi-

als, construction, manufacturing, graduations and mark-

ings in great detail. After a chapter on custom rules and

accessories, Chapter 5 describes, in 123 pages, each of

more than 270 rules ever made by Stanley from 1855-

1975. Much of the material in Boxwood and Ivory had

been rewritten for Phil's new book, but there is much de-

tail on Stanley rules in Boxwood and Ivory that will like-

ly never be repeated elsewhere. So if you collect Stanley

rules, hang on to this book. And, if you don't have it, you

might consider buying a copy at auction.

In 1997 Ken Roberts released Fundamentals of Rule

Collecting ("Fundamentals"), an expanded version of his

Introduction, subtitled Excerpts from Studies by Kenneth

D. Roberts and Philip E. Stanley. It repeats the 14-pages

from the Introduction, reproduces several articles on

rules, and ends with Phil Stanley's Concordance of Major

American Rule Makers (1840 - 1940). Concordance was

an unfamiliar term to me. Its third definition is an alpha-

betical index of subjects in some text, such as the Bible or

Shakespeare. Phil's Concordance is a set of 19 tables

with rule numbers as entries. A table might be for all 2-

foot, 4-fold wood rules; all 1-foot, 4-fold ivory rules; all

board, log, and wood measures; all wantage and gauging

rods, etc. Tables have 11 columns for 9 rule makers,

with Stearns and Chapin having two columns for early

and late periods of manufacture. Table rows are for sub-

types of rules. For example, the table for 2-foot, 4-fold

rules has 57 subtypes for different combinations of joints,

tips, plates, binding, width, etc. , many more than any

other table. Information for the Concordance was taken (Continued on page 5)

Phil Stanley


from published catalogs and lists and from observed exam-

ples, so there are rules included that may never have been

produced. For example, Belcher Brothers traditional rules

are relatively uncommon yet in the Concordance Belcher is

shown as having offered more than 150 different rules that

no other manufacturer ever made, especially ivory rules.

In 2000 Ken Roberts decided to discontinue his pub-

lishing on rules and asked Phil if he were interested in tak-

ing over. It was then that Phil proposed the idea for a for-

mat expanded to include significant additional material of

interest to rule collectors. Roberts agreed. The result is A

Source Book for Rule Collectors ("Source Book") and the

stand-alone A Rule Concordance and Value Guide

("Concordance"). The two come as a package.

The new Concordance has exactly the same format as

the 1997 original version in Fundamentals, but also shows

a value range for each rule. And because values are so dif-

ferent for A. Stanley and Stanley Rule and Level, the single

column for Stanley rules was split to show them separately,

as was done originally for Stearns and Chapin. Value

ranges have a low value for a rule in "Good" condition and

the high value for a rule in "Fine" condition, much as with

other value guides (e.g. Walter& Kean). "Good" and

"Fine" are as defined by a rule condition chart similar to the

Fine Tool Journal condition classification for antique tools

(revised and copyright in 1991). One collector complained

to me that some popular rules are missing from the Con-

cordance, such as the Stanley No. 0 and No. 00, but you

have to have rules. And, Phil's rule was that a rule had to

have been in a catalog.

For the most part, values ranges are based on actual

auctions and sales, including the internet, over more than 5

years. A very thorough explanation of the factors affecting

value is included; this is good stuff! I checked the Stanley

rules auctioned at the last three Brown auctions and last

three Live Free Nashua auctions. About half of the rules

fell in Phil's value ranges and a third were close but lower.

The others were all over the map as might be expected. We

all know that auction prices are high when we're there and

low when we're not!

The Concordance is separate from the Source Book so

it can be reprinted for any updates or if it were to ever in-

clude a guide to scarcity. In Vol. 1 No. 1 of Mensuration,

a short-lived publication for rule collectors, Jim Hill and

Phil proposed a system for classifying rules as to scarcity,

similar to those by Todd Frieberg for sawsets and by Ron

Pearson for patented braces. Maybe, someday, with an

enormous effort, scarcity ratings might be added to the

Concordance.

The Source Book includes the original Introduction and

reprints of 24 valuable writings on rules including several

from the Journal of the Oughtred Society, which most rule

collectors have probably not seen before. Three of the four

issues of Mensuration are also reprinted. Beyond this, the

book's extensive bibliography includes probably anything

ever written about rules.

Boxwood and Ivory, as mentioned above, included

chapters that Phil wrote on "Materials, Construction, and

the Rulemaking Process" and "Graduations and Markings,"

which described these topics as relating to Stanley rules.

These chapters were modified, expanded, and generalized

to all the major rule makers for the Source Book and are

even more valuable to collectors than the 1984 originals.

(Why rulemaking is one word and rule maker two is one

for the Wizzard!) The first chapter is all about woods, met-

als, joints, bindings, tips, and bits. The second discusses,

among other things, left-to right vs. right-to-left gradua-

tions; linear vs. non-linear graduations; and the graduations

scales, and tables that appear on many different types of

rules. Did you know that ivory shrinks while drying and

must be seasoned like wood? Did you know that the first

machine to graduate rules was invented by Lemuel Hedge

of Windsor, Vermont, in 1827? Of course you all know

what embellishment lines are.

The chapter "Special Rule Types and Uses" describes

55 different types of rules that have been developed for

particular applications. There are more, of course, but

these are the ones Phil believes are of greatest interest to

rule collectors. Descriptions of at least one-half of these

special rules were included in Boxwood and Ivory, where

they appeared along with the rules of that type that Stanley

made. The rest are new to this book. Some descriptions

are brief, such as blacksmith and saddler's rules. Others are

more extensively, such as Dearborn's anglet and combina-

tion rules. The chapter has 72 pages and includes a large

part of the new material in the book. A final chapter de-

scribes a variety of rule accessories.

There is a chapter on foreign units of length, which I

admit to not reading. It's hard for me to get excited about

the fuss being the unit of measure in Silesia or the pia in

Bologna. But the material is from a talk Phil gave in Eng-

land and is certainly worthy of inclusion.

My only suggestion to Phil would have been to include

a reprint of his overview of the rule industry from Box-

wood and Ivory, for that was good information. But, in

summary, we can probably convert the old CRAFTS slogan

to "If you like rules, you should buy this book." Collectors

should appreciate having a value guide for all the major

rule makers, not just Stanley. And the Source Book has

come a long way since the Introduction. Together, these

books are a great value. Thanks Phil for a sterling job.

Hank Allen



A vertical stiffening rib was added direct-

ly behind taper cam to stiffen the front jaw.

(See Type U3) Next the hub which holds the

rear jaw and vise beam was shortened slightly,

probably to reduce weight and cost. (See Type

U4, U5 and U6) After that more jaw stiffeners

were add-

ed. (See Type U6)

This time stiff-

eners were

in the shape of a K

or V at the outer

edge. The Em-

mert text was

revised to ac-

commodate this change. Also the taper adjustment knob was

changed to a plastic like material. It was larger in size, but not as

sturdy as the cast iron one.

SIMILAR VISES

BY OLIVER, KINDT-

COLLINS, AMT, YEON CHUAN, VERITAS AND YOST

Several companies pro-

duced vises similar to Vic-

tor Koontz’ design. The

Oliver Machinery Co. made

a couple, the No. 1 and 248.

The Oliver No. 1 is larger

and heavier. It measures

18” x 7”, has a larger main

vise screw and opens larger

to 16”. The Oliver name is

prominently placed at the

top of the front jaw in

large raised letters. Vic-

tor’s original thumb screw design for taper adjustment was mod-

ified. The Oliver taper adjust-

ment eliminated the locking

collar completely and used a

pivoting casting with a thumb

screw at each end. The taper

adjustment is set by loosen-

ing one thumb screw and

tightening the other. I’ve yet

to see this part damaged on

an Oliver vise. Oliver also

produced a seldom seen mod-

el 248. With this vise Oliver revised the taper adjustment to use a

cam/handle behind a collar similar to the Emmert. In the 1970s,

Kindt-Collins bought the rights to produce the Oliver 248. They

used the existing Oliver design and place their name on the front

jaw. Kindt-Collins stopped producing this vise in the 1990s as

patternmaking switched to CAD (Computer Aided Design) and

CNC (Computer Numeric Control).

Two other manufacturers fol-

lowing the Koontz’ design pro-

duced patternmakers vises were the

now closed AMT (American Ma-

chine & Tool Co.) and one pro-

duced by Yeon Chuan Machinery.

These were fashioned after the

smaller No. 2 model and had jaws

that were 13-3/4” x 5”. The func-

tion and abilities remained in this

smaller version only with fewer

vise dogs. The Yeon Chuan vise,

sometimes called the Taiwan copy

is still available thru many retailers in the $200 price range.

Lee Valley’s innovative design team, known as Veritas,

developed their own patented vise loosely based on Victor

Koontz’ beginning. Known as the Tucker vise, it was patented

by Edwin Tucker, Leonard

Lee and others in 1992. It

incorporated a host of

features and design im-

provements, including a

quick release which can be

operated using a foot pe-

dal. The Tucker vise is

made primarily of ZA-12

material which is as strong

as cast iron, less brittle

and much lighter. The vise

jaws are 8”x13” and are

lined with leather. Visit

the Lee Valley website for more information at

http://www.leevalley.com.

The latest vise to follow Victor Koontz’ design is the

Hopewell vise. This limited produc-

tion jewel is just beginning its proto-

typing and manufacturing. After

purchasing the remaining stock, pat-

terns and drawings from Kindt-

Collins, CS Machinery of Oxford,

Pennsylvania has engineered thicker

patterns with even more jaw gussets.

It will be cast here in the USA using

gray iron will weigh a whopping 135

pounds. The front jaw taper adjust-

ment uses the Kindt-Collins style

cam/handle and has added detents to

register it parallel to the back jaw.

The Hopewell vise will soon be bat-

tleship of the patternmaker’s vises.

Victor Koontz, like Joseph Emmert and Gilmore Yost, had a

profound affect patternmaker’s vises. While the exacting work of

patternmaking has faded, today’s woodworkers and tool collec-

tors still marvel over these versatile vises.


K-rib stiffener

OLIVER No. 1 Vise

Tucker Vise by Veritas

Yeon Chuan Machinery Vise

Kindt-Collins No. 1

G.M. Yost Manufacturing Co. Vise

AMT Vise

http://www.leevalley.com/


.

Emmert K-1 Improved Universal Vise - Type Study by Carl Matthews

Collar has 8 reinforcing r ibs, half low or tr iangular shaped and half high fin,

almost rectangular shaped.

Front Jaw has Victor Tool Co. Waynesboro PA and " PAT APLD FOR" or

PATENTED" on left side and K1 on the right. Extra bosses are cast to receive the

bolts used to adjust the taper adjustment.

Rear Jaw has no casting number .

Vise Dogs are shor t on front and rear jaws and do not protrude thru the lower

jaw casting.

Taper Adjustment is accomplished by loosening the collar , adjusting 2 thumb

screws and re-tightening the collar.

Hub is long hub with equal sided casting at split ).

Beam has slot on r ight side. Beam can be installed with slot on left side.

Tilt Adj. Mechanism is a flat slotted bar . This is a rare type.

Collar has high-low ribbed collar. 8 reinforcing ribs or gussets, half triangular

shaped (low) and half almost rectangular shaped (high).

Front Jaw has Emmer t Mfg. Co. Waynesboro PA U.S.A. and Patented on left

side and K1 on the right. The drawing shows an extra horizontal rib extending to the

outer edge of the front jaw but actual vise does not. Extra bosses are cast to receive

the bolts used to adjust the taper adjustment. Vertical rib near collar is missing.


Vise Dogs are shor t on front and rear jaws and do not protrude thru the lower

jaw casting.

Taper Adjustment is not by use of a rotating cam. You adjust finger screws on

either side, just behind the collar.

Hub is long hub with equal sided casting at split.


Tilt Adj. Mechanism is a flat slotted bar . This is a rare type.

Collar has high-low ribbed collar. 8 reinforcing ribs or gussets, half triangular

shaped (low) and half almost rectangular shaped (high).

Front Jaw has Emmer t Mfg. Co. Waynesboro PA U.S.A. and Patented on left

side and K1 on the right. Vertical rib near collar is missing.


Vise Dogs 4 dogs, 2 flat top on rear jaw and 2 angled top on front jaw. They are

made of cast iron and break easily

Taper Adjustment now uses a cam with a handle and knob just behind the col-

lar. The knob is easily broken off.



Tilt Adj. Mechanism is a flat slotted bar . This is an uncommon type.

Collar has 4 reinforcing r ibs, all tr iangular shaped.

Front Jaw has Emmer t Mfg. Co. Waynesboro PA U.S.A. and Patented on left side

and K1 on the right. Vertical rib near collar added.

Taper Adjustment uses a cam with a handle and knob just behind the collar .



Tilt Adj. Mechanism is a flat slotted bar . This is an uncommon type.

Type U-.05

Type U-1

Type U-2

Type U-3


Emmert K-1 Improved Universal Vise - Type Study - by Carl Matthews


Front Jaw has Emmer t Mfg. Co. Waynesboro PA U.S.A. and Patented

on left side and K1 on the right. Extra reinforcement at base of dogs added.

Taper Adjustment uses a cam with a handle and knob just behind the

collar and casting number K-14.

Hub is shor t hub with unequal sided casting at split.


Tilt Adj. Mechanism is a flat slotted bar or flat solid bar .

This is the most common "New Improved" Universal Type

Type U-5


Front Jaw has Emmer t Mfg Co on left side and K-1 Waynesboro PA

USA on the right. Extra reinforcement at base of dogs. Extra V shaped ribs

on jaws for more reinforcement added.

Rear Jaw has casting number K-2 and V shaped reinforcing ribs.

Taper Adjustment uses a cam with a handle and a new plastic knob

just behind the collar and casting number K-14.

Hub is shor t hub with unequal sided casting at split.

Beam has slot on r ight side. Beam can be installed with slot on left

side. Type U-6


Front Jaw has Emmer t Mfg. Co. Waynesboro PA U.S.A. and Patented

on left side and K1 on the right. Vertical rib near collar added.

Taper Adjustment now uses a cam with a handle and knob just behind

the collar. The knob is easily broken off.

Hub changed to shor t hub with unequal sided casting at split.


Tilt Adj. Mechanism is a flat slotted bar .

Type U-4

How to Install an Emmert Vise

It’s not easy to hang an 87 lb. hunk of iron under a workbench. It takes careful planning, head scratching, decision making and

muscle. However, help is available. Grab your favorite beverage and take a look at the following websites for help. There are several

good sites providing help with mounting an Emmert vise to your workbench.

John Gunterman's FAMOUS Emmert page at www.shavings.net/emmert.htm.

Roger VanMaren recommends Jamestown Distributors www.jamestowndistributors.com for bronze or stainless flat head wood

screws up to #18. I used the 2-1/2" long bronze versions on my Emmert.

Union Hill Antique Tools at www.tooltimer.com/emmert.htm.

Additional Emmert mounting information can be found, on page141,in The Workbench Book by Scott Landis, a Fine Woodworking

Book, published by The Taunton Press.

Carl Matthews’ website, THE IRON HAND is the authority on all aspects of Joseph Emmert’s ingenuity and inventiveness. If you

have any interest in vises, patternmaking, etc. you should visit at www.mprime.com/emmert/index.htm - ED

http://www.shavings.net/emmert.htm

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/

http://www.tooltimer.com/emmert.htm

http://www.mprime.com/emmert/index.htm


CRAFTS Picnic - 2004

When I arrived at Brady Camp, the sun was just rising and I could

see a light mist rising from the grassy fields behind the parking

area where a few hardy souls had begun to set up their tables. Not

at all like last year when it was cloudy and damp with a forecast

of showers and rain for most of the day. In fact, we were very

lucky that the heavy rain held off until lunch was being served.

What

a

dif-

ference a year makes. The rain gods weren’t going to have any

opportunities this year, with a forecast of fair skies and tempera-

tures in the mid

to upper 70’s.

It was going to

be just about

perfect.

People were

arriving slowly

but steadily,

cars entering

the parking

area looking

very much like

a mechanical

Conga line

until the trade area was filled. Tables were soon loaded with tools

of all types and the selling, which began soon after sunrise, con-

tinued at a brisk clip throughout the day with lots of great tools

changing hands.

This year Ken Vliet arranged for an expert demonstrate the way

steer and cow horn can be made into the useful and decorative

implements that were common in earlier times. It was a very

interesting learning experience.

Something else that seems to occur at CRAFTS events with un-

canny regularity is the unveiling of extra special tools that can be

viewed and discussed without constraint. This day was no excep-

tion. One of our members brought a Hetchel, a rather common

tool, that looks to me like a bed of nails and was used to separate


CRAFTS president Greg Welsh getting a lesson


flax plants, in the preparation of linen. There were a number of

things that were unusual about this tool, it had a spring loaded

cover, was made of cherry wood, it was dated, 1822 I think. But

the truly amazing feature was that it was imprinted ND on one

end and Dominy on the other. It was made by the same family

whose workshop is a part of the Winterthur collection in the

Hagley Museum located in Delaware. I’m hoping its owner will

provide pictures and an article for a future Tool Shed.

This is was the

This year I brought a

tool display. I’ve

seen so many won-

derful displays put

together by our

members in past

years and I had nev-

er entered one my-

self ,so this would be

my first effort. After

I made the rounds of

the early sellers,

picking up a couple of bargains in the process, I went off to stake

out a table in the display area and begin setting it up.

Ken Vliet’s catered lunch was another superb effort and from

the number of people going back for seconds and even thirds this

is definitely one of the highlights of the day.

After lunch the activities moved indoors with the silent auc-

tion, door prizes, what’s-it session and awards taking center stage.

This year the Presidents Award was presented to James Travis for

his terrific

work on re-

vamping the

CRAFTS web

site. If you

didn’t know

we had one or

haven’t seen

it lately, it’s

been com-

pletely updat-

ed with new

features and

photo’s of

CRAFTS

activities.

The web address is: http://www.craftsofnj.org.

The displays were especial-

ly nice this year in a wide range

of subjects, with something for

everyone. Jacob Novinger

brought a collection of em-

bossed axes and hatchets.

Ken Vliet’s diorama, skillfully

blending photographs, childrens

toys, signs and tools showed an

early view of farming along the

Black River. Greg Welsh brought an exquisite collection of small

block planes and

Chuck Granick displayed his collection of Treenware. Anna

Rokita always brings

unusual kitchen tools.

Joe Hauck displayed

tools made of Lignum

Vitae, Richard Burton

brought a collection of

sharpening stones and I

brought some North Bros. tools

and advertis-

ing.

I know that

all who attend-

ed this year’s

picnic had a

great time. For

those of you

who haven’t

been able to

attend the

CRAFTS

picnic, I hope

you’ll be able

to get to one

in the future.

It’s a really

enjoyable

day, being

out in the

country with

good friends

and good food

.

As al-

ways, many

thanks go to

Ken Vliet who

puts in so much

time and effort

to make the CRAFTS picnic one of the nicest tool events of the

year.


Lunch is served!

Greg Welsh presented the Presidents Award to

this years winner, James Travis

Farming along the Black River

Anna Rokita’s kitchen tools

Chuck Granick’s Treen

Greg’s small block planes

Tools and implements made from Lignum Vitae

North Bros. “Yankee” tools and advertising


COMPANIONS

I have heard people refer to many inani-

mate objects as their “companions”. Cars, boats,

games, even computers -- although there are

times when I have seriously thought of killing

my computer “companion”.

Hobbies also make great companions. I have

seen the owner of a doll collection name and talk

to each one. She was a lonely spinster and these

dolls were her life. Maybe not quite as passion-

ate, but certainly in the ballpark, are those model

train hobbyists, and even to some degree stamp

collectors.

I have been collecting antique tools for over

30 years, and I consider them my friends and

companions. And I know many others that feel

the same way. Mine are all displayed, so it’s

easy to walk by, pick one up, and reminisce

about its procurement, restoration, and research.

Of all my tools, there are only a few that I

cannot remember the time and place where I got

them. True, many did not need restoration, and

many were not in the research category, but the

ones that were - continue to bring a little deeper

breath and a smile when I pick them up to dust

them off, and make sure they are still working.

Many of the better stories have been transmit-

ted into the Tool Shed over the years, but there

are tons of stories left. Most are the kind that go

with the expression, “You had to be there”. But

to me they are all priceless, because I was there!

As I do less and less galavanting around in

the flea markets in the wee hours, and ceasing

the garage sale routes altogether, I feel a closer

kinship to those tools that are still in my collec-

tion. They are truly companions (regardless of

any jealousy that might be generated up out of

Doris.)

I feel sorry for the collectors that just have

the tools packed away in boxes somewhere, and

rarely get to see them or dust them off. Even

picking one up and holding it in the working po-

sition stirs up a warm spot for me. And in rare

cases, I actually use them.

It has always amazed me that tools, which the

foundation of our society moved forward on, get

such little respect. That is starting to change with

TV programs etc. but we have a ways to go to

bring tools to there rightful place in the scheme

of things.

In some respects we are going backwards.

Look at what is happening in our school system.

Manual Training and Machine Shop classes have

all but been deleted from Middle Schools and

High Schools. Even the Vocational Schools are

changing to include more academics and less

shops. The young people today are having a

rough time with simple things like changing a

sink washer, planing a door, or in some cases

even hanging a picture.

I am presently working with a museum to

hold classes for Boy Scouts to give them some

background about tools and their use, so when

they become householders they can perform

simple repairs etc. I’m not sure how it will work

out, but it’s a start. A good project for our club is

to do something to help in this area. I end this

article with that thought.

I also am ending Kean Kuttin’s for a while. I

took a sabbatical a few years back, and I am go-

ing to take another one now. As one of the an-

cient radio programs used to end with the song,

“So long for a while”, so do I. ------ Herb


TOOL EVENTS

November 7th - CRAFTS Meeting 1PM

HOST Masonic Lodge Highbridge, NJ

November 17 - David Stanley Auctions

1000 lots Antique and Modern woodworking tools

Leicestershire, England

www.davidstanley.com

TEL:011441530 222320

January 23 - 24 - M-WTCA Area P Meet

York, PA William Warner 717-843-8105

WANT ADS

Need help disposing of your tools or home items? Entire or

partial house clean-outs available. Call Steve Zluky, (908)

534-2710.

Seeking McKinnon axe of Rockaway, NJ made between

1845 and 1905. Please call Stephen at (732) 682-8236.

Another “Mystery of Life” question answered??

This cigarette card was a gift to Dan Ludwig from Mrs. Helen Beitler

The back of the card provides an unusual explanation

for the saw notch (nib). I’m not sure that this

“Mystery of Life” question has been resolved since I

don’t believe that the author ever used a saw before!

ED

a journal of tool collecting published by crafts of new jersey

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